body care

Homemade Castile Soap

Swathy · May 10, 2013 · 9 Comments

Guest Post by Waseema

This is the first time that I am writing a review and I am excited and nervous at the same time. Today I would like to review a pure olive oil soap also called Castile Soap handmade by me at home.

Why I got into soap making is because my daughters aged 5 yrs and 1 yr have very sensitive skin and any soap I use caused dry flaky skin or dry patches with redness and itching on them.

The soaps I make are cold process soaps which have a high percentage of glycerin in it as a result of the saponification process. Hence, these soaps are very conditioning and do not dry out skin unlike commercial soaps.

Ingredients

Saponified oils of olive, castor, lye and distilled water. Unscented, Uncolored.

My Experience

This soap does not lather like the commercial soaps as it contains 90% olive oil, but the addition of castor oil helps with bubbles as seen in the picture above. If you use a pouf/nylon mesh scrubber you can get decent lather. Though this soap does not lather much but it cleanses very well and does not dry the skin.

Ever since my daughters have been using this soap their skin is behaving well and does not break out in itchy rashes or flaky patches. I would recommend this soap for babies and those with sensitive and dry mature skin. Overall this works as a great soap for all skin types.

Editor’s Note: This is so true. Read what I wrote about the difference between soaps and bathing bars.

Due to high glycerine content these soaps melt very easily and to keep it around longer you have to avoid holding it in the shower stream, and make sure that you store it on a well-draining soap dish, or else it can end up in a gloppy mess.

I make these soaps at home. Currently I have a batch that’s cured and ready to be used. You can check more pictures here. If you would like to buy them, let me know.

Price: Rs 99 for 80gms

Thank you so much for reading my review!
Luv,
Waseema.

Editor’s Note: Thanks a lot Waseema for letting us know about the castile soaps. They are indeed really awesome!

Have you been a parlour girl to anyone? {Your Opinion}

Swathy · May 7, 2013 · 10 Comments

Have you ever been a parlor girl for your friend or mom or dad, may be? I have! And, on the weekend, I did something which I had never done! I applied henna on my friend’s hair with an application brush minus the gloves!

Results? Fingers and nails which are orange-y! And, I have gotta an engagement to attend in a week! Anyways, when I was henna-ing my friend, this idea struck me. So, this is my question to you all. Have you done any beauty parlor services to anyone?

As regards me, apart from this experience, I am a very good masseur. I don’t know about the body yet but head yes. I give a really good head massage 🙂 I did that for my mom, my dad and some of my friends. And, every time I do it to someone else, I always wish if there was someone who would do it to me as well 🙂

Waxing is not my cup of tea, though! It requires quite a stroke to pull that piece of strip and it hurts when you yank so that is something I don’t think I can do! But, yes, I have also done facial but I don’t remember doing it to someone else. Though, I do wish I do want to do it to my mom! She is one woman doesn’t really bother about herself but still looks awesome!

And, oh yeah, what about hair styles? I was always a guinea pig for the new styles. I hardly did trials on someone else and then lately I learned some of the new styles which I tried on my hair only! So, sadly, I would love to have a guinea pig for myself but this is where I miss sisters most! Having sisters makes life really easy for maintaining a routine, right?

So, what about you? Have you been a parlor girl to anyone else? Do you find it fun?

PS: I am sorry but I am not able to check the mails or comments. Please give me sometime. Net sucks over here and the entire weekend was a huge waste of time! I wasn’t able to check or reply to the comments. Shall do so soon enough and let you know and sorry!! 🙁

Do you use moisturizer in summers? {Your Opinion}

Swathy · April 30, 2013 · 14 Comments

Ok, I will be a very bad beauty blogger if I say no! But, the sad truth is yes, I am not using moisturizer these days, neither on face or body! It is so damn hot and my exposure to air conditioning is quite minimal.

In the morning, my routine is to apply the sunscreen right after stepping out from shower. I am using MVO Moisturizing Face Screen which needs an oil base to go smoothly on skin. But, even if I apply a drop of oil, my skin turns out oily after 10 minutes so I found out a new base to apply. I am using Maybelline on the face instead of only the eyes as it is meant for! Honestly, it is totally matte and blends really well with the skin giving me a smooth base for the sunscreen application. And, finally, my skin is not THAT oily either at the end of the ritual.

And, at night or in the evening, I use coconut oil to remove the sunscreen so I slather it in a decent quantity for 5 minutes and remove with a tissue paper. And, go for a face wash. After that, IF I feel like which is not quite often, I wipe my face with a toner which totally makes the skin feel heavy! So, no place for any mositurizer.

And, the story of a body lotion is altogether different, laziness being the foremost reason. And, I think I was using Nivea for dry skin couple of days back which was in March probably. And, obviously, it was not a great choice for summers! It made my skin feel really sticky so I started skipping the entire routine instead of just changing the product! Now, I am using a lighter lotion but I still do not use it everyday.

Btw, someone told me Vaseline Aloevera is a decent choice right now in Hyderabad weather. I was thinking of getting it but have not yet implemented the thought! I thought at least a small bottle would serve as a hand cream but nope! I am using the Vaseline cocoa butter which my friend has in the office which is obviously again not a great choice!

Btw, which hand cream are you using? Or, are you using it? If you are not, I have to say that at the very least keep on moisturizing your hands because they get extremely dry because of all the work they do and the constant washing they undergo! I had stopped moisturizing my hands totally till few days back and I realized they were looking so 70-year old!! So, that is something one has to do consistently. Now, my hands are a little better.

I know not moisturizing is a cardinal sin when it comes to skin care and would never ever ask you to resort to it. But, then I got thinking what exactly is necessary at this point? Moisturization or Hydration? Are they both different? My skin does get dry! It is not like its a pan of oil but somehow it ends up getting hydrated from inside so I don’t really feel uncomfortable. Then, do I need moisturization in such a case?

Now, its your TURN! What do you do? Do you also skip your moisturization due to heat or humidity or laziness? Or, you try to follow the routine religiously whether you feel dry or NOT?